'Play ball' resounds throughout Orange County

Noah Brock, 6, of the Dodgers reacts as the ball slips past him during practice at opening day. Tustin Eastern Little League started its season Saturday after a short ceremony.MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Opening day started early Saturday morning for some Orange County Little Leaguers with ceremonies, the first pitch, and the resounding metallic pings as bats connected with baseballs.

In Tustin, nearly 1,000 children from 5 to 12 have signed up for the 2013 Tustin Little League season, which had its opening day Saturday.

The Tustin Eastern Little started the day with a pancake breakfast at 7a.m.at Utt Middle School followed by an opening ceremony which included a pep talk by former Angel's MLB pitcher Mark Langston. The city's other Little League, Tustin Western, had its opening day at Hewes Middle School.

After the Eastern league ceremony, hundreds of kids ready to play ball and parents weighed down by folding chairs and video cameras wandered the fields of Utt Middle School, where games were played throughout the day.

Many parents said they value theÃ¯Â¿Â½ camaraderie and life lessons that Little League offers.Ã¯Â¿Â½ Kim Hassenplug, whose son Trevor had the honor of throwing the first pitch of the season during the Eastern league's opening ceremony, said Little League has turned her son into a leader and a role model for his teammates. It has also taught him self-control.

"When he was little, he didn't know how to handle defeat very well. If he struck out, he pouted," Hassenplug said of her son. "He's got better sportsmanship now that he's older. It's no longer the end of the world if they lose."

Noah Brock, 6, of the Dodgers reacts as the ball slips past him during practice at opening day. Tustin Eastern Little League started its season Saturday after a short ceremony. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Cubs players whoop it up after their first baseball game of the season. They were at Tustin Eastern Little League Opening Day Saturday where they played the Angels. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Little League Major Yankees players Tim Cronn, 11, left, Gavin Walker, 11, and Zack Pinnix, 12, race to the field during opening day ceremonies. They were celebrating the start of the Tustin Eastern Little League season Saturday. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
T-ball buddies Jacob Policare, left, 5, and Jacob Lugassy, 4, leave the field after opening day ceremonies for Tustin Eastern Little League. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Cubs players in Tustin Eastern Little League get ready for an exciting game against the Angels Saturday during opening day. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The fans go wild as they cheer their team during the Tustin Eastern Little League Opening Day baseball games. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Orioles T-ball players say the Pledge of Allegiance during Tustin Eastern Little League Opening Day. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Little League teams amuse themselves as they wait their turn to take the field during opening day in Tustin on Saturday. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Tustin Eastern Little League players scramble to the field as their teams are announced during an opening day ceremony. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Cubs player Nate Vincent, 5, hones his skills during Tustin Eastern Little League opening day. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A sad little Giant gets comforted on the field during Tustin Eastern Little League Opening day ceremonies Saturday. MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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